Content
- The cherry laurel - not only beautiful but also dangerous
- The enjoyment of the berries can be fatal for children
- The poisoning symptoms
- Animal owners beware
- In their homeland, the cherry laurel is considered a delicacy
- Tips & Tricks
The cherry laurel - not only beautiful but also dangerous
The evergreen cherry laurel adorns many home gardens and is one of the most popular hedge plants. What many do not know: The wood is highly poisonous in all parts of the plant. For this reason, the laurel cherry was chosen in 2019 to the poison plant of the year.
The enjoyment of the berries can be fatal for children
The cherry laurel contains glycosides in the leaves, flowers and seeds of the fruits. After chewing and swallowing, they are converted into highly toxic hydrocyanic acid in the stomach. The glycosides taste very bitter. Therefore, children who eat from the leaves of the cherry laurel usually spit it back directly. A much greater danger of poisoning comes from the fruits, which taste aromatic sweet with only a slightly bitter aftertaste. Already ten chewed kernels of laurel cherry can be deadly to a child. In adults, the dose increases to about fifty kernels.
The poisoning symptoms
Cyanogenic Poisoning can be recognized by these symptoms:
As with all poisoning, not all symptoms occur at the same time. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion of intoxication, seek medical attention.
Animal owners beware
Cherry laurel is also toxic to horses, cattle, cows, pigs, dogs, cats and small animals. You recognize the poisoning in your four-legged friend on increased salivation, irritation of the mucous membranes, stomach and intestinal problems and respiratory problems to respiratory paralysis. If your pet shows these symptoms and suspects that it has eaten from the cherry laurel, you should contact a veterinarian immediately.
In their homeland, the cherry laurel is considered a delicacy
Dried or cooked, the laurel cherry is edible and non-toxic due to the decomposition of the toxins. The fruits are highly valued in Turkey as a specialty. However, because of their toxicity, it is better to leave the processing of the berries to the professionals.
Tips & Tricks
Because of their high hydrocyanic acid content, the leaves of the laurel cherry are used to soften and soften organic materials. This process is environmentally friendly as it does not cause any water damage and is used in particular during the restoration.
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